Marine VHF for Sea Kayakers

[@joannaevans6987]

Got more from this video than from hours of reading and scanning through links. Thanks!

[@JustinWood]

Cool I'm glad it helped

[@thegreatadventures2024]

Here in the states you do not need one if it's a hand held marine vhf but keep in mind that you will still need to keep in mind to be able to properly communicate and give as much information as possible while doing distress calls or for a tow. Especially in kayaks.

[@stewartmcgrath1831]

Great advice, I usually kayak around Anglesey and North Wales and relied on mobile and flares as I was worried about being legal. Now bought Floating VHF got it licensed and I registered with CG66 for EMERGENCY use only at the moment but will get an operators permit when they can fit me in. A great video answered many of my questions 👍

[@JustinWood]

Thank you Stewart we hoping to do a lot more around Anglesey depending on our crap weather last year was not great for sea kayakers...It gives piece of mind when you have a VHF on ya makes your paddle a lot more enjoyable knowing your safe and legal..Justin

[@sm1thers]

Thanks for this video, Ive seen people before say its ££ or nothing, others advocating going rouge , It was great to see that I can get a free licence to have a radio legally for emergency use and for listening to the traffic. Ship Portable Radio Licence now acquired, Radio shopping time.

[@sean19]

This is the kind of information video we need . No b.s just cut to the chase . Cheers.

[@CaptMahbrowPhantom]

This is so helpful. Thanks. I was quite confused to be honist but I'm not any more. Smashing video.

[@MadDogGiraffe]

Been trawling for a useful overview, this was it. Thank you very much.

[@JustinWood]

Glad it was helpful!

[@alexstubbins6298]

Great info. Really useful like you say lots of conflicting information out there nice you made it easy to understand.

[@alexstubbins6298]

Also I take it the T number is used instead of callsign.

[@kaw420TSVR]

This is gold, thank you so much

[@burbusbond]

Great vid. Been looking for this info for ages. Thanks for posting 👍

[@JustinWood]

David Bond Thank you for your comment glad you found it useful keep safe Justin

[@mattgoss7024]

Thanks for this video it is very informative. As a result I am now licensed.

[@JustinWood]

Glad it was helpful! Keep safe..Justin

[@Rameman33]

All sound advice.Will look in to getting one.

[@brynmitchell5774]

Brilliant , just what I needed to know, thanks .

[@JustinWood]

No problem glad it helped..Justin

[@MrTyger11]

Excellent information, thank you so much.

[@thecountryman7028]

Great video,Great advice,Thanks for sharing.

[@scuff88mc]

Thanks for the great advice buddy. Much appreciated mate !!..

[@JustinWood]

No worries glad it helped

[@markyg254]

Super helpful video Justin. Got my licence in the time it took to watch. CG66 scheme now replaced but worth using the replacement?

[@davelloyd6420]

Excellent information. Thanks. ( now subscribed )

[@JustinWood]

Awesome, thank you!

[@tonyallen1953]

Hi Justin can you recommend a vhf hand held radio for emergency use only. Thanks

[@deansanderson5992]

Hi thank you for this helpful video. I've gone on eBay and bought a cheapo baofeng uv-5r. I really worried that it might not be legal in the uk ☹️ I'm seeing plenty of information that they are not legal in America but I can get a clear answer about the uk. Could you help me by confirming if it's legal please?

[@JustinWood]

I would say No, because of all the extra feathers on it also UK PMR frequencies (446MHz), however legally this is not permitted. PMR has a maximum power limit of 0.5 watts. Baofeng radios normally transmit at 5 watts, or 8 watts. ... It is perfectly legal to listen to PMR on a Baofeng though.

[@deansanderson5992]

@@JustinWood thank you. I only bought it for safety to contact the coast guard when small boat fishing if needed. I'm worried if I register it with ofcom they might fine me or something.

[@JustinWood]

@@deansanderson5992 It seems that you can only listen and not transmit with that device...It did say if you Dont regiester it you will get fined.....I have spken with alot of coastguuards and they all say the same they would rather get a call in a manor of strees then not at all then spend hrs on a search, which i get.... I dont think you will have a problem as long as you only use it for an emergency but i would regiester the radio..

[@deansanderson5992]

@@JustinWood ok I understand that thank you

[@alanfindlay3683]

Thanks for posting been very helpful. Do you recommend doing the online course?

[@JustinWood]

Hi if you do the online course you will still haveto do the exam in class hope tghis helps.

[@alanfindlay3683]

@@JustinWood Ok thanks think i will go for emergency option for now.

[@gastomltd522]

Hi , if I want to have handheld radio plus deck fixed radio as well do I need register both radios separately and receive individual MMSI number for each radio ? Thanks

[@JustinWood]

Hi Yes you do If you require an ATIS MMSI number, this can now be added to your Ship Radio licence. All you need to do is amend your licence and add one or more pieces of ATIS equipment for a separate MMSI number..When you apply for the portable radio licence it will ask if you have a MMSI and a call sign just add them and you are good to go.

[@trystanthomas3701]

I registered my radio with the link but it never asked me for a callsigne

[@alisonb4898]

Being a ham operator I thought you could take a vhf radio anywhere as long as you don’t transmit and if there is an emergency then you can use it legally to call for help only.

[@sm1thers]

"Under the Act, it is an offence to install or use any radio equipment on board any ship registered in the UK or Crown Dependencies, other than under (and in accordance with the terms of) a licence issued by Ofcom. It is also an offence for a person to have ship radio equipment in their possession or under their control, with the intention of using it without a licence. A Ship Radio Licence or Ship Portable Radio Licence is therefore required even if the radio equipment is not in constant use or if it is intended for use only for distress purposes." but the licence is free, and allows you to have the equipment. to broadcast you need a competency cert, but are allowed to broadcast in an emergency.

[@downrangeops]

Is there any chance you could do a new review that would be relevant to 2020? There is nothing wrong with this video, but I would like to hear your opinion of the current crop of radios and the latest UK legislation.

[@surfpete31]

It is sad, but very much appreciated, that it takes a fella volunteer to give clarification to the confusing issues of VHF portable licence and certification. I can only think that the authorities and RYA (which I think should make it clearer) are understandably keen to get everyone using the radio to understand the protocol on its use, something that is not a given when not certificates. I will,be taken it out on my kayak for emergency use only u til I can find a course local to me (Fowey I believe) . The time you have taken to do this vid has been very much appreciated by many people, including me. Thank you so much.

[@ptrckmuir]

Thanks

[@granorman]

Really Helpful Thanks

[@RichardOutdoors]

Hi. Thanks for info. Went straight to Ofcom and looked for the category A form and it’s a minefield there! Can you put a link up? Cheers.i can see ‘ships radio’ or ‘maritime radio light’ any ideas?

[@JustinWood]

Hi its the Amateur and Ships Radio Licensing Portal you need

[@steved2551]

What a piece of crap that portal is I've given up why in God's name is every thing in this country so bloody hard to expedite

[@sm1thers]

@@steved2551 note its not called "category A" that was just a way the OP differentiated between the groups for the benefit of the video. Its a "Ship Portable Radio Licence" you want same as if you had a full blown yacht, and when it asks you what type of radio click portable. Then you get a licence (same as if you had a yacht with a radio). you can now legally own and turn on a VHF for listening but you cant broadcast (other than in an emergency) without a competency certificate (eg SRC).

[@Embrace78a]

Sm1thsonFPV cheers for this I applied for “ship portable radio “ as I couldn’t find an amateur licence

[@sm1thers]

@@Embrace78a that's the right one for kayak (an other forms of marine). amateur licence is different, Amateur is free to listen, to get amateur licence you have to do an exam first to get the licence which allows you to broadcast on other frequencies (though CB and PMR446 are available licence free.

[@tomgosy]

Fantastic video, cleared up all my confusion. Is this information still up to date?

[@JustinWood]

Thomas Gosling It is and ty 😉

[@ericnicholls4583]

Hey, How do I apply for a category A radio licence, I only want to use it for emergency purposes, I do not want to radio other vessels etc, I purely want to use the radio if I get into trouble out at sea. Just so I’ve got it clear category A is a radio where you need a License but don’t need to sit a exam (for emergency purposes only) and category B is where you need to do a exam before you get the license (license for talking to other vessels ports etc etc) so I’ve gone onto the Ofcom website and spoke to a representative on there live chat, she wasn’t that helpful really, I think she was possibly clocking off to go home as she ended the chat and then the chat was switched off 🙈. So could you please tell me how to attain the category A license please. That would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Eric.

[@paulharper1874]

Zoomed people are still telling me I nee to do an SRC course, is this correct, I have my licence , t number-and mmsi number. Vid is great by the way

[@Milkybar882]

What one do you apply for on the website? I'm currently studying to do my exam but would like to be able to take out the radio I've just got for emergency use only like mentioned in the video?

[@TrinaTube]

nice video

[@JustinWood]

Thankyou for your support....Justin

[@CLOWNUK]

do they send you the licence in the post

[@JustinWood]

No mate email straight away

[@CLOWNUK]

@@JustinWood thanks, ive sorted it now

[@charleshamer6515]

My God. Category A: Record your you tube video indoors or otherwise aways from background noise. Category B: 8 minutes into this video and still close to zero information on using it.

[@MN-wf8hr]

Well explained, thankyou!